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The Start of a New Era for Nippon Koei - BDP

日本工営・BDPの新時代の幕開け

Nippon Koei President Ryuichi Arimoto talks about the collaboration between BDP and Nippon Koei and the joint vision to be the world’s leading integrated architecture, design and engineering firm delivering world class design solutions which enhance the communities they serve.

It is precisely one year since I made the decision to welcome BDP, a distinguished British interdisciplinary design practice, into the Nippon Koei Group. Making this decision was a long and complicated process because it involved an investment of unprecedented proportions for us and our first acquisition of an overseas firm. Above all, I considered carefully the state of mind of BDP’s employees and pondered as to how I could provide a management style that would generate a strong cohesive momentum. However, in the event my concerns were dispelled by a conversation I had with BDP’s Chief Executive, John McManus. I discovered that his highest priorities were the same as mine. In other words, the top managers of both companies shared the same concerns and would be looking to work together to resolve them. My management strategy became clear and it’s very simple. Firstly, I value our employees highly and have concluded that we need to set up a profit sharing framework with clearly established targets to incentivise them. Secondly, we need to create new business opportunities and customers whilst simultaneously taking maximum advantage of both companies’ unique characteristics. To bring this about, we formulated a business plan for future governance which was called the ‘100-Days Review and Discussion’ and is based on the concept of Autonomy and Collaboration.

2016 will almost certainly be recorded as a red-letter year in the histories of both Nippon Koei and BDP. Soon their two histories will become one. I am confident that together, we will create a new era which will exceed anything currently envisaged.

Japan-Palau Friendship Bridge

A fortunate coincidence for both parties is the fact that their respective founders shared similar corporate philosophies and values. Nippon Koei’s founder, Yutaka Kubota, started his company at the age of 56 with a rich supply of human resources possessing extensive knowledge of civil engineering, electricity, geology and other fields of engineering and science. BDP’s founder, Sir George Grenfell Baines, likewise started his company at the age of 54 based on an interdisciplinary concept. Although their companies were in different fields — engineering and architecture — they shared similarities in their attitudes toward business. Specifically both endeavored to respond to their clients’ demands with sincerity. Although such a management style might be considered inefficient, from the customer’s standpoint it spares no effort in providing the most effective and sensible solutions to their requirements.

Ho Chi Minh City Mass Rapid Transit, Vietnam

Many readers probably expect Nippon Koei and BDP to begin demonstrating synergy immediately. However, these things are never simple. Although small effects are likely to quickly become evident, if we are to give shape to new projects on the world map we must bring to bear more knowhow and courage than ever before. We need to remember that this will not be a voyage of smooth sailing. With that said however, above all else I pledge to seek the happiness of both our employees and our customers. The future is very bright and I look forward to it with enthusiasm!

Sharing as an ideal, sharing not just what we have but, more importantly, each shares contributing effort to making it....why not do this with the building industry and professionals?